McLaren Vale is situated just a mere 45 minutes from Adelaide, making it the perfect spot to visit for a wine getaway. We recently spent three nights there and I was blown away by this incredible region. From the beautiful rolling green hills covered in vines, to the sweeping coastal views, to the amazing wine (of course), McLaren Vale has it all! There are so many things to do in McLaren Vale it’s hard to know where to begin!
I was trying to decide where to start sharing our trip with you all, and I figured the best place to start would be with wine. I mean that’s what I went for, and that’s certainly what McLaren Vale delivered! In around four days we certainly covered a lot of ground, but I definitely feel we only just scratched the surface of this incredible wine region. I felt that everyone we asked had a different favourite, and I can’t wait to go back and tick more off the list!
It was hard picking just 10 of my favourite McLaren Vale cellar doors that we visited, but I wanted to give you a bit of a curated list of the ones that really blew me away. Just keep in mind though that I really enjoyed everywhere we visited, so I feel you can’t really go wrong when you head there yourself! You are in for good wine no matter where you look!
So without further ado, here are my top 10 McLaren Vale cellar doors, in no particular order, to help you find things to do in McLaren Vale.
Hugh Hamilton Wines
Location: 94 McMurtrie Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Unique tasting experiences and an incredible cellar door
You’ve got to try: The Tasting of the senses tasting experience
Cost of tasting: varied – $10-$75 per person
Opening hours: Open daily 11am-5pm
Why I loved it
Hugh Hamilton Wines was the first spot we visited on our trip. The first thing I have to say is their cellar door is absolutely incredible. Not just the inside itself but the winery grounds. You drive along this long driveway lined with trees with the circular cellar door at the end. It was built on an old water tank, and as a result, has incredible views across the vineyard from pretty much all angles.
Hugh Hamilton Wines does their tastings a little differently. Instead of standing up at the bar, you are seated for your tasting experience. They offer a few different options depending on your budget, but it felt so different to some of the other wineries we visited. More personal and special! We got a great seat with views across the valley, and it was incredible watching the rain clouds sweep across as we tasted the wines.
Tasting of the Senses
The best part about it was the tasting we did. We had the Tasting of the Senses, which is $20 per person but totally worth it for the experience. We sat down at our table in front of these beautiful black boxes. When you lifted the lid, there was a full tasting kit inside, including colour charts, fabrics for texture, and glass jars with different scents in them. Scents like the milk chocolate and rosemary definitely made me hungry!
Kath took us through an incredible tasting where we tried each wine and got to fill out what flavours we thought we tasted, and what we thought of the wine. It was so detailed and a great way to taste wine at a cellar door. I think if you have the time it is definitely worth doing for a special experience. We had so much fun trying to pick the flavours, and it made us taste the wine in a whole new way!
This experience was made even better by the great service. Kath was so knowledgeable and gave us so much of her time. We left with so much extra knowledge and a truly memorable experience. We also got to meet the winemaker and pick his brain, which my partner loved as he loves asking questions. Overall it was such a great experience, and one I would definitely go back for.
The wines
You might be thinking, ok, the tasting was good, but what about the wines? Well, I have to say all the wines we tasted were delicious. It was hard to pick just one that we loved. And this is coming from people who had just really analysed the tastes, textures and smells of each wine!
Hugh Hamilton has a great range of wines, and they were quite reasonably priced. We tried mostly wines from their Dark Arts range, but there were plenty more to try, and something for everyone’s budget. I loved the Dark Arts range because of their unique names and labels. Each label is designed by computers and tells the story of the blend of wine – each variety has a different pattern, and depending on the blend, the computer creates a label!
Our favourite and a favourite of the cellar door was the Three-Card Monte. It was absolutely delicious, and we had to bring a bottle home! That and a bottle of their unique shiraz cordial!
Coriole Vineyards
Location: Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Incredible food and beautiful cellar door
You’ve got to try: Mary Kathleen Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2015 (tasting fees apply)
Cost of tasting: Complimentary
Opening hours: Daily 10am – 5pm
Why I loved it
Coriole was definitely a highlight for me. We went there for lunch when we were on the Hop on Hop off bus, and we loved it so much that we squeezed in another visit. Literally, we had 10 minutes until we needed to start driving back to Adelaide, and I managed to convince my partner that we needed to go back for a tasting. I’m so glad we did because all the wines were incredible.
If you’re looking for a picturesque winery, I don’t think they get much better than Coriole. The cellar door is like something out of a movie. It’s a cosy little cottage with a garden leading up to it full of flowers. Then you’ve got the restaurant, which has amazing views across the vineyard, and vines growing across the ceiling. The whole thing was super cosy, which was perfect in the cooler weather.
I have to say one of the highlights was going to Gather, their restaurant. The lunch was one of the best meals of our trip! The food was out of control good, especially the fresh-pressed olive oil. But the service was what made it for us. Our waiter was so attentive, and even let us try a few wines to pick one we loved. We ended up buying a bottle of it when we went back because we loved it so much.
The wines
Where to begin with the wines? We managed to fit a lot in on our speedy tasting and had to buy a couple of bottles to bring home. Their tastings are complimentary apart from their Reserve wines. A hot tip though, you can get a glass of some of these in the restaurant, and I recommend you do. I normally wouldn’t order a Cabernet Sauvignon with lunch, but when we tried this one I fell in love. Then I loved it so much when we went back we had to get a bottle, even though it was a little more expensive than the others we got on the trip!
If you are in the restaurant or tasting room, make sure you try the Mary Kathleen Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2015. It was by far my favourite wine, and something I remembered drinking the whole trip. It isn’t cheap, but definitely worth it for that delicious flavour. We were lucky enough to get another sip in the tasting room just to be sure, but as soon as I had it I knew it was the wine from lunch. Cannot wait to open this bottle at home!
We also really loved their Sangiovese, which comes from the oldest Sangiovese vines in Australia. It was such a delicious wine and one of my favourite Sangioveses from the trip. However, regardless of what we tried, we seemed to love them all. It didn’t seem like you could go wrong with Coriole, and I could have easily brought home more bottles!
Beresford Wines
Location: 252 Blewitt Springs Rd, McLaren Flat SA 5171
Go there for: Beautiful cellar door and great staff
You’ve got to try: Estate Grenache 2014
Cost of tasting: varies from $10-$35 per person
Opening hours: Daily 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
Beresford Wines was one that I really wanted to visit before the trip, mainly to check out the grounds. I had seen it on Instagram (and let’s face it, Married at First Sight) and it looked incredible. When we arrived, it definitely exceeded expectations because of the cellar door experience.
Beresford Wines is separate to Beresford Estate which is a beautiful villa in amongst the vines. However, you get a beautiful view of the villa from the tasting room. The tasting room was also incredible. It was beautifully designed and furnished, making it super stylish. It also has a really nice lawn where they put out games when the weather permits. We took a seat at the bar and were taken through some of the wines, getting full attention and great conversation from the server.
There are different packages you can choose depending on your budget. We opted for the $15 package which got us a great mix of wines across their range. However, you can also do a matched food and wine tasting which I think I would do if I went back!
What I loved so much was the great conversation we had when we were tasting. The tastings were generous and she let us share one because my partner was driving. But she gave us her full attention and taught us a lot about the wines and the area. The service was truly great.
The wines
We chose a tasting with a mix of their different wines, and I really enjoyed this as we got to try their sparkling wine, Rosé and red wines. The wines I enjoyed the most were their Estate wines, especially the Estate Grenache 2014. It was light and fruity, and definitely up there as one of the best ones I tried on the trip.
With Beresford, you go to enjoy the wines, but stay for the great conversation and a beautiful cellar door! I could definitely see myself spending a few hours here enjoying some food and sunshine!
Samuels Gorge
Location: 193, Lot 10 Chaffeys Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Incredible views and relaxed atmosphere
You’ve got to try: Mourvedre 2017
Cost of tasting: Complimentary
Opening hours: Daily 11am-5pm
Why I loved it
Almost everywhere we went we were told to go to Samuels Gorge. I had so many people recommend it to me, and I was worried we weren’t going to fit it in. But we managed to squeeze in a visit on our last day just before we had to head back, and I’m so glad we did!
Samuels Gorge is right up in the hills and has the most incredible view from the cellar door. I could have really sat down and enjoyed that view with a big glass of red wine. But we only had time for a tasting, and so we headed into the cellar door to try the wines.
The cellar door is one of the coziest ones we visited. It’s in a little cottage with a big table and some chairs. Although it was a small space, there were so many people there and it didn’t feel crowded. This could have been because the tastings weren’t done at a bench, the man doing them just wandered around filling up everyone’s glasses. I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, almost like you weren’t at a cellar door but at a friend’s place who has great wine.
The wines
I could see why everyone recommends Samuels Gorge after tasting the wine. Although they don’t have an extensive wine list, every wine we tried we absolutely loved. This McLaren Vale Cellar Door is a red lover’s dream! It was very hard to decide on just one, but we had limited room in our suitcases! So we chose the one that blew us away from the first sip: the Mourvedre 2017. It was so incredibly delicious, and so reasonably priced too!
If you are a red lover, definitely check out Samuels Gorge. I’m so glad we managed to fit it in on our trip, and I don’t think you’ll regret it either! You also can’t go past such a great wine tasting experience.
S.C. Pannell Wines
Location: 60 Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Unusual wines and great views
You’ve got to try: Barbera 2017
Cost of tasting: varies from $5-$15 per person, redeemable on purchase
Opening hours: Daily 11am-5pm
Why I loved it
We visited S.C. Pannell as soon as we dropped our stuff in our Airbnb. We had to get to know our neighbours after all! It was a short walk across the vineyard to the cellar door from where we were staying, so we ended up heading back on Sunday because we loved it so much.
S.C. Pannell was such a fun winery. They have a really beautiful balcony with great views across their vineyard, and on Sunday we enjoyed a glass of wine while looking out on the views. Inside, you’ll find a cosy cellar door lit up by their big S.C. Pannell neon sign. The cellar door matches their wines which all have really fun labels. I loved the relaxed atmosphere, and we loved our tasting. The guy taking us through was really knowledgeable but also laid back. He made us laugh and even though it was busy still gave us so much time.
On Sundays, they also have food trucks, music and wine for sale in their courtyard. We caught the end of this on Sunday, and it was really fun! Definitely something worth doing if you are in the area.
The wines
Where to begin with the wines? We enjoyed so many of them, but there was one that stole our hearts. The Barbera 2017 absolutely knocked our socks off! It was so juicy and delicious, we knew right away we had to have a bottle. Lucky we got to try it because it wasn’t on our tasting! And after speaking to people since buying it, all anyone can talk about is the Barbera that blew their mind. So if you try one wine, make sure it’s this one!
Whether you want somewhere to enjoy a glass of wine and relax in the sun, or just want to try a great range of wines, S.C. Pannell has it all! We really enjoyed the experience here, and it was definitely a highlight of the trip!
Primo Estate
Location: 50 McMurtrie Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Incredible cellar door and Italian varieties
You’ve got to try: Zamberlan 2017
Cost of tasting: varies, $5 per person to taste the range, redeemable on purchase
Opening hours: Daily 11am-4pm
Why I loved it
We went to Primo Estate on our Hop on Hop off tour. We weren’t meant to be able to go there on the tour, but the bus driver was nice enough to drop us outside. Primo Estate was on my list from the moment we were going to McLaren Vale because I am obsessed with their Primo Secco. So you can imagine how excited I was to try their other wines!
The Primo Estate cellar door is absolutely stunning. Architecturally it has the most interesting and striking structure, and I loved the entryway scattered with olive trees. It screamed Italy, and I was all about it.
Heading into the cellar door, we settled in for a great tasting. We were taken through the range with the most attentive server. He gave us so much time and knowledge around the wines throughout the tasting and made us feel we were the only ones in the room.
The bonus about Primo Estate: the tasting comes with some bread and olive oil. Not just any olive oil, some of the best I have ever tasted! McLaren Vale is known for its olive oil, and the one at Primo Estate was to die for! I wanted to buy a bottle but my partner had to put a cap on me because I was buying up olive oil left right and centre. But now I am seriously considering ordering some because it was that good!
The wines
Where to begin with the wines? We did the basic tasting and it was such good value. We got to try my favourite Primo Secco once again, and also taste some of their other incredible wines. They have such an interesting range of wines, particularly Italian varieties, you honestly cannot go wrong!
One of my favourites was the Zamberlan 2017. I’ve never tried a Cabernet Sangiovese before, but this one truly blew me away. It was so rich and complex, completely unexpected, and delicious.
If you love Italian wines, make sure Primo Estate is on your list. You’ll have a great experience there, and make sure in between sips you enjoy the beautiful building and surrounds.
d’Arenberg
Location: Osborn Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Interesting architecture and views
You’ve got to try: The Blending Bench experience
Cost of tasting: $10 entry fee includes tasting
Opening hours: Daily 10am-4pm
Why I loved it
Although it is a touristy thing to do, everyone told us we had to go to d’Arenberg and the Cube. It cost around $6 million to build and took years to get approved, but this structure has to be the most interesting cellar door in a wine region I’ve ever seen. It is designed like a Rubix cube, and although it juts out of the landscape between the vines (and sheep), it doesn’t seem that out of place.
The Cube is definitely worth visiting for the unique cellar door. It costs $10 to get in, but you get to experience their sensory experience on the ground floor before heading up to the tasting room. It’s full of interesting art, and even has a 3D experience room which, to be honest, I didn’t quite get, but oh well. It was all part of an experience I’ll never forget.
I really loved the tasting room on level four. It has incredible views across the valley, and the most interesting cellar door counters I’ve ever seen. I’ve certainly never tasted wine on a counter with an LED screen that has naked women floating by!
We did the Blending Bench experience which I highly recommend. You get to try your hand at winemaking by blending different Shiraz wines into your very own blend that you get to take home! Totally worth it for trying something different.
The wines
I really loved the wines here. There were so many to try, it was hard to know where to start on their extensive list. One of our favourites was the Sparkling Shiraz, which we realised we have a bottle of at home! This was definitely one of our favourite Sparkling Shiraz’s that we tried on the trip.
You also need to try their signature wine, the Dead Arm Shiraz. It isn’t cheap to buy, but you can see why when you taste it! We were lucky enough to try it on our Blending Bench, and I can tell you my blend certainly didn’t taste anywhere near as good.
So my opinion of the Cube? It’s something you need to see to believe, and definitely worth the visit. Sure it is a bit touristy, but just do it for the gram!
Maxwell Wines
Location: 19 Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Great wine knowledge and beautiful cellar door
You’ve got to try: Little Demon GSM 2017
Cost of tasting: varies
Opening hours: Daily 10am-5pm
Why I loved it
Maxwell Wines was on my list because I’ve always enjoyed their wines at the Good Food and Wine Show, especially their meads! I really wanted to head to their winery while we were in McLaren Vale to try more of their wines. Luckily they were just down the road from us, so my partner and I wandered on down right on 10 am to give their wines a try.
The cellar door at Maxwell Wines is beautiful. It has a nice large grounds where you can bring a picnic, and even enjoy their hedge maze! We headed right into the cellar door, which is a beautiful stone and timber building with an incredible looking restaurant and a beautiful counter for wine tastings. They also had a cozy fireplace which was perfect on our chilly weekend. I absolutely loved the feel of the cellar door, and I could definitely see myself spending a while there just soaking it in with a glass of wine, or enjoying the restaurant.
We were lucky enough to be the only people in the cellar door, and so were taken through the wines really extensively. Because it was so early in the morning we opted for the cheapest tasting which included lighter wines, but I definitely want to go back and try some more of their wines next time.
What I loved so much about this tasting, other than the wines, was the amount of knowledge the Sommelier gave us about the wines. He was so informed and really keen to talk about wine, which I absolutely loved. We ended up staying for much longer than expected because we were having such a good time speaking to him and trying the wines.
The wines
All the wines that we tried at Maxwell Wines were absolutely delicious. I really enjoyed their Sparkling wine and their Rosé which we started off with. They were very refreshing and delicious. However, our favourite was definitely the Little Demon GSM 2017. It was a really tasty wine and super affordable for how good it was.
Whether you want to try their famous mead, enjoy a meal at their restaurant or just try their extensive list of wines, Maxwell Wines has it all! I definitely cannot wait to go back, especially to try their restaurant!
Chapel Hill Wine
Location: 1 Chapel Hill Road McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Beautiful cellar door in an old church
You’ve got to try: Sangiovese Rosé 2019
Cost of tasting: $5 per person, redeemable on purchase
Opening hours: Daily 11am-5pm
Why I loved it
Chapel Hill Wines was recommended to us by a few people before we went to McLaren Vale, so I was glad we fit it in. It has a beautiful cellar door up on the hill near Samuels Gorge. You enter through a cobblestone courtyard and go through to the old Seaview Chapel and schoolhouse which has been standing since 1865.
The cellar door is absolutely beautiful. We opted to try the wines in the main room, but you can have your tasting in the chapel if you would prefer. I really liked the relaxed atmosphere in the cellar door. We gathered around a barrel and had the wines brought to us. It gave the winery a bit of a point of difference and made us feel right at home.
The wines
The wines at Chapel Hill Wine did not disappoint. I’d tried some before so it was good to try different wines in their range. I was pleasantly surprised by the price points here, especially for my favourite wine: the Rosé. It was made on Sangiovese grapes, and absolutely delicious. Definitely give it a go if you are there!
I really enjoyed Chapel Hill Wines. Their cellar door was nice and relaxed, the wines were great, and the chapel was unique. What more could you want?
Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards
Location: 246 Seaview Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Go there for: Cozy cellar door and delicious olive oil
You’ve got to try: 2016 HJ Reserve Shiraz
Cost of tasting: Varies
Opening hours: Daily 10am-4pm
Why I loved it
Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards was another one that was recommended to us by a few people, so I knew we had to get there. Six generations of family winemaking have built this winery, and even today you can see how family-focused they are. Today they focus on emerging grapes, particularly the Mediterranean varieties. They also make incredible olive oil (one of the many bottles I brought home).
The cellar door is absolutely beautiful on the outside. It is a cozy stone building which sits in amongst the vines. Inside, you’ll find a nice cozy room which feels like you are in a cottage. They had plenty of tables for tasting, but we decided to sit up at the bar.
The tastings aren’t redeemable on a purchase, but you do get some delicious bread and olive oil to sample while you are taken through the wines. I was impressed by the extensive tasting we received which took us through so many of their wines.
What I really enjoyed was the service. It could have been that they were quiet, but we had our server for the whole time we were trying the wines. He was so attentive and up for a good chat about the winery and its history.
The wines
I really enjoyed the wines we tasted, and also the olive oil! I would have easily taken more than one bottle home, but we had to be selective because of our luggage. If you can, make sure you sample some of their Reserve wines. I really enjoyed the 2016 HJ Reserve Shiraz. It wasn’t cheap, but when you tasted it you could see why!
If you’re looking for a Rosé, we ended up purchasing a bottle of the Chica Mencia Rosé 2018. I’ve never had a Mencia wine before, but this Rosé was absolutely delicious!
The final word on my top McLaren Vale cellar doors
We had the best time checking out the McLaren Vale cellar doors. This list only scratches the surface of the cellar doors we visited, and there were so many we didn’t get to! I guess that means we need to do another trip!
Overall, McLaren Vale had such great cellar doors. The people were so friendly and knowledgeable, and you could tell they all loved wine. I also loved that many of the wineries had a lot of interesting varieties to try, and also many Biodynamic and Organic wines. It was all right up my alley, and a perfect trip away.